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It's Been a Minute

Want in on a secret? Your likes and dislikes didn't develop by accident. There are subtle and not-so-subtle forces around you, shaping what you think, how you act, and even who you think you are. Brittany Luse is here to break the spell and help you feel wiser in a society that makes things blurry.

THE BEST POP CULTURE PODCAST AWARD WINNER AT THE 2025 SIGNAL AWARDS

It’s Been A Minute with Brittany Luse is the best podcast for understanding what’s going on in culture right now, and helps you consume it smarter. From how politics influences pop culture to how identity influences tech or health, Brittany makes the picture clearer for you every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.It’s Been A Minute reaches millions of people every week. Join the community and conversation today.

If you can't get enough, try It's Been a Minute Plus. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/itsbeenaminute
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Episodes

Weekly Wrap: "Because Of You."

Morning Edition host Rachel Martin and Stephen Thompson of NPR Music and Pop Culture Happy Hour join Sam to talk through the week that was: the speed of the news, the President's new immigration proposal and focus on the party base, why the stock market keeps soaring, the new White House chief of staff, TRL's return to MTV and the network's new CEO, celebrities (maybe?) running for office; plus, some LL Cool J, a call to a listener in San Diego, and the best things that happened to listeners all...

Aug 04, 201752 min

Lakeith Stanfield from 'Get Out' and 'Atlanta'

Sam talks to actor Lakeith Stanfield about fidget spinning, meditating, loneliness, his character Darius on 'Atlanta,' growing up in California, working odd jobs before acting, what success means in Hollywood, why 'Get Out' was the creepiest experience he's ever had on a set, black men in film and vulnerability, his family, charcoal lemonade, his upcoming movies 'Death Note' and 'Crown Heights', and they make a surprise phone call. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org and follow Sam on Twitter @...

Aug 01, 201736 min

Weekly Wrap: "This Feels Weird."

All Things Considered host Audie Cornish and Planet Money correspondent Ailsa Chang join Sam to talk through the week that was: health care, the President's tweets on transgender individuals in the military, the GOP's failure to pass a health care bill in the Senate, a new wrinkle in the story of a Supreme Court case, millennials and beer; plus, some Missy Elliott, a call to a listener in Arizona, and the best things that happened to listeners all week. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org and f...

Jul 28, 201753 min

Zoe Lister-Jones on 'Band Aid'

The first-time director and star of the CBS sitcom 'Life in Pieces' shot her new movie using an all-female crew. She talks to Sam about that, and about diversity in hiring, her favorite karaoke song, Jamie Foxx, her film's co-stars Adam Pally and Fred Armisen, growing up in New York as the daughter of struggling artists, success and failure in art, performing the music in 'Band Aid', how directing is like journalism editing, relationships, and working with her husband. Email the show at samsande...

Jul 25, 201739 min

Weekly Wrap: "Shoe's Gonna Drop."

NPR reporter Camila Domonoske and NPR editor Barrie Hardymon join Sam to talk through the week that was: Elon Musk, the President's New York Times interview, intern season, private student loan debt, HBO's new series set in a fictional America where slavery exists, the rebirth of the Thong Song, plus a call to a listener in Oregon and the best things that happened to listeners all week. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org and follow Sam on Twitter @samsanders. See pcm.adswizz.com for informatio...

Jul 21, 201749 min

Producer/Songwriter Jeff Bhasker

Sam talks to musician and record producer Jeff Bhakser about having a kid, settling down, working with Harry Styles (in Jamaica), what he learned working with Kanye West (in Hawaii), growing up half-Indian in New Mexico, his musical influences, the message behind all his music, and the loneliest song he ever wrote. Plus a special guest drops in. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org and follow Sam on Twitter @samsanders. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal...

Jul 18, 201736 min

Friday Wrap: "Sir And Rumi."

NPR congressional correspondent Susan Davis and VICE News correspondent Evan McMorris-Santoro join Sam to talk through the week that was: Pitbull, Donald Trump Jr and his emails, Beyonce's twins, Game of Thrones, the Senate GOP and health care, Senator Al Franken, Emmaneul Macron and President Trump's visit to France, plus a call to a listener in Alabama and the best things that happened to listeners all week. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org and follow Sam on Twitter @samsanders. See pcm.ad...

Jul 14, 201746 min

'The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman'

Sam talks to writer Anne Helen Petersen about her new book, "Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman." They cover pop culture and the news, President Trump, the nature of celebrity, Kim Kardashian, Nicki Minaj, Serena Williams, Lena Dunham, Amy Schumer, how white women can learn to be woke, Anne Hathaway, Melissa McCarthy, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, Hillary Clinton, Ivanka Trump, Bernie Sanders and 'charismatic' politicians, and why Petersen's mother was an unr...

Jul 11, 201745 min

Friday Wrap: "Get Over Yourselves."

'This American Life' reporter Zoe Chace and 'Reply All' host PJ Vogt join Sam to talk through the week that was: Chris Christie in the sun, North Korea, CNN and the President, the anniversary of the Dallas police shooting, wealthy Republican donors, hacking in the Ukraine, Hobby Lobby, plus a call to a small business owner in Illinois and the best things that happened to listeners all week. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org and follow Sam on Twitter @samsanders. See pcm.adswizz.com for inform...

Jul 07, 201750 min

Timothy Simons from 'Veep'

Sam talks to writer and actor Timothy Simons about hustling, playing such contemptible character, the fair city of Boston, growing up in New England, struggling in school, struggling in regional theatre, struggling as a bouncer at the worst bar in America, getting cast on 'Veep', working with Julia Louis Dreyfus, and political comedy in the age of Donald Trump. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org and follow Sam on Twitter @samsanders. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and...

Jul 04, 201739 min

Friday Wrap: "They're Still Here."

Washington Post writer Alexandra Petri and Gene Demby from NPR's Code Switch team join Sam to talk through the week that was: Baby Driver , Jay-Z, the President's tweets, a new survey on American attitudes about race and discrimination, the minimum wage in Seattle, Serena Williams, the wrestler 'Progressive Liberal,' GLOW on Netflix, plus a call to a trucking company manager in Wisconsin and the best things that happened to listeners all week. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org and follow Sam ...

Jun 30, 201747 min

Lena Waithe from 'Master Of None'

Sam talks to producer, writer, and actor Lena Waithe about microwavable pork rinds, growing up in front of the TV in Chicago, transcribing reality television footage, finally making it as a Hollywood writer, powerful storytelling by people of color, and writing and acting in Master Of None with Aziz Ansari. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org and follow Sam on Twitter @samsanders. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage you...

Jun 27, 201751 min

Friday Wrap: "Likes Don't Matter."

All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro and New York Times reporter Katie Rogers join Sam to talk through the week that was. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org and follow Sam on Twitter @samsanders. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Jun 23, 201745 min
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